Lorry driver reverses over crossing and smashes into barrier as train approaches

Shocking footage shows the moment a lorry driver smashed through barriers at a level crossing after they reversed over the railway line.

The trucker was captured on camera slowly driving backwards over the track as a train approached at Wedgwood Station, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, on Thursday.

The HGV can be seen making it most of the way across the crossing before the gate came down on top of the truck - ripping the barrier clean off.

It caused major disruption to passengers travelling on the West Coast main line between Crewe and Stoke as the route had to be closed.

A lorry driver smashed through barriers at a level crossing (Network Rail / SWNS)

Engineers worked for one-and-half hours to fix the barrier by 2pm following the incident, which happened at 12.30pm.

Network Rail today released the heart-stopping footage and warned motorists never to reverse over level crossings.

James Dean, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director, said: “It’s almost unbelievable that this lorry driver decided to reverse over this level crossing, putting not only them but also the oncoming train and its passengers in danger.

Engineers had to be called out to fix the barrier broken by the lorry driver (Network Rail / SWNS)

“It’s not advice we usually need to give but now we must also stress to motorists to never reverse over a level crossing as you won’t see the warning lights.

"For those driving in the correct direction, our advice remains as it always has – although it might be tempting to jump the lights or race through the barriers – don’t - please just wait.”